Traditions
12/22/2018
It's that time of year when traditions are at the forefront of our lives as we host family and friends and celebrate holidays. Merriam-Webster defines tradition as the handing down of information, beliefs, and customs and also as cultural continuity in social attitudes, customs, and institutions. According to author Frank Sonnenberg, "Traditions represent a critical piece of our culture. They help form the structure and foundation of our families and our society. They remind us that we are part of a history that defines our past, shapes who we are today and who we are likely to become." He also notes that tradition contributes a sense of comfort and belonging, reinforces values, helps create lasting memories for families and friends, and offers an excellent context for meaningful reflection. I cannot help but notice how traditions contribute to the culture of PNA, to our students' sense of belonging to the PNA community, and to their excitement about being part of the PNA culture and community. This week, we had the privilege of visiting second grade's shops, as did many other classes at the school. For my students, experiences like these make them excited to be part of it in a few years. Next year, they will visit the shops again as first graders and, after that, they will create their own shops. Students in the upper school remember creating their own shops when they were in second grade and reflect on their shops and how the products of the current class are alike and different than their own. There are similar experiences across the grades as beloved projects re-emerge each year, among them our castle sleepover, mock Iditarod, and EK reading buddies, second grade's egg drop, third grade's arcade games, and spring trips across the grades. These are things that students look forward to with excited anticipation or reflect on with nostalgia. Through sharing these experiences, students interact with peers beyond their classroom. They do not just feel belonging to their class, but to PNA. It is so rewarding to see students' excitement as they take part in these traditions, to see the anticipation of younger and new students and to see older students reflecting and helping the younger students with such care and attention. The culture of PNA is truly something special, and the traditions that students share makes that culture stronger and ensure that each student knows s/he belongs and is an important part of something wonderful. Thank you for choosing PNA and helping us to build a wonderful culture rich with tradition for our sweet students.
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Saania AliMs. Ali graduated from the University of Houston with a Bachelors of Science in Interdisciplinary Studies. She specializes in Early Childhood Education, ESL, and Special Education. Her hobbies include traveling, reading, and painting! Archives
April 2021
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